LMT - Sweden NATO bid still stalled despite Biden support leaders meet to break deadlock
2023-07-06 05:18:37 ET
Sweden's bid to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Alliance) continues to be stalled, amid objections from Turkey and Hungary, despite U.S. President Joe Biden reiterating his support for the Nordic country's membership.
Biden supported Sweden's bid to join NATO during Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's visit to the White House. "Sweden is going to make our alliance stronger and has the same value set that we have in NATO," said Biden.
Sweden and Finland ended their long-held neutrality and applied to join NATO last year in the wake of Russia invading Ukraine. Finland was approved in April.
Turkey's holdup could impact its bid to buy upgraded F-16 fighter jets from the U.S., produced by Lockheed Martin ( NYSE: LMT ), as Biden has suggested that Sweden's NATO membership should be endorsed first.
Breaking the deadlock
NATO had hoped the objections to Sweden's membership would be cleared ahead of a key summit in Lithuania next week. Officials from Sweden and Turkey will meet at NATO headquarters on Thursday to evaluate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's objections to the Nordic country's membership.
Erdogan has accused Sweden of being too lenient on groups that his government views as terrorist entities and for allowing protests that include burning the Quran.
Meanwhile, Hungary has alleged that Swedish politicians have told "blatant lies" surrounding Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reportedly said the country would not delay the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership if there is a shift in Turkey's stance.
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Sweden NATO bid still stalled despite Biden support, leaders meet to break deadlock